Tentative 2017 $2 Million Clarion Borough Budget Approved

Ron Wilshire

Ron Wilshire

Published November 17, 2016 5:28 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Clarion Borough Council Tuesday night unanimously approved a tentative 2017 budget of nearly $2 million that includes no tax increases nor any increases in fees for services such as the Clarion Borough Pool.

Voting for the budget were council members Earl Zerfoss, Rachel Roberts, Ben Aaron, Brenda Sanders Dede, Jason Noto, and Keaton MacBeth.  President Carol Lapinto could not vote because she is serving as acting mayor after the resignation Dave Walters.  Council also approved advertising of the budget for public review.

The budget is likely to be approved by Council in December.

Tax millage totals 22 mills, with one mill of tax equaling $39,982.039, but a 94 percent collection rate is projected in the budget.  Millage is distributed among the following accounts: General Fund, Street Lighting, Fire Company, Library, Recreation, and Recycling.

Estimated revenue generated by real estate taxes is $718,383.  Local enabling taxes add another $440,340, licenses and fees account for 217.095, and other income produces $1,924,628 in revenue for next year for the budget.

Although the tentative budget does not call for tax increases, official said it was a lean budget and will not support additional services.  Public Works committee chair Earl Zerfoss said no new major paving projects are planned.

In other related business:

• Noto reported that the Storm Water Authority was taking a pause, noting that it has not disbanded but reviewing the concept.

Property owners, including non-profits such as churches and Clarion University, could see new fees or taxes trickle down with a new Storm Water Authority.  Although there is now an authority, no decision has been made about fees or taxes.

An attorney addressed Council a November 2015 meeting about the possibility of Department of Environmental Protection legislation mandating better control of storm water following directions from the federal government and noted some Pennsylvania communities are investigating the establishment of separate authorities that could establish taxes or fees apart from the municipality.

Assessment of the fee would be based on the amount of storm water generated by the property or the amount of impervious covering such as roofs and parking lots.

• Granted permission to transfer $1,125.226.04 to a newly approved Capital Project Fund Plan B.  The money was identified in an audit as money that should have been restricted in an account other than the General Fund.  The money is the proceeds from the sale of the Clarion Area Authority.  A previous council directed that the money be placed in a restricted account but was placed in a CD in the General Fund.

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